Blackman
picture album page



ug. l5, 1967 s. BLACKMAN 3,335,5M

PICTURE ALBUM PAGE Filed Feb. 26, 1965 INVENTOR. STANLEY BLACKMAN A TTORNEKS' 3,335,514 PCTURE ALBUM PAGE Stanley Blackman, 1021 Phelps Read, Teaneclr, NJ. 076% Fiied Feb. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 435,460 l Claim. (Cl. ttl-158) This invention relates to an album page for mounting pictures and, more particularly, to an album page precursor which when filled with pictures `can be readily formed into a completed picture album page.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide an album page precursor which is adapted to `have mounted therein one or more photographs, e..g., snapshots, which will receive and hold one picture after another as each is successively emplaced therein and which when filled with its complement of pictures can be easily formed into a unitary permanent picture album page.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an album page precursor of the character described which outlines (frames) each picture that it displays so that each picture when observed will be a distinct and separate entity on said album page.

It is yet a further object of my invention to provide an album page precursor of the character described which serves to organize, mount and preserve such pictures as a user thereof desires to locate in the completed album page and which with other similar picture album pages can be formed into an att-ractive and long lasting picture album which will delight the user whenever he wishes to leaf through said album.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide an album page precursor of the character described which includes novel means for mounting one or more pictures on an album page, said means initially and somewhat temporarily storing said pictures as a single page is gradually being filled and finally, after the page has been filled, permanently mounting said pictures and exhibiting said pictures to view in a complete album page.

It is another object of my invention to provide an album page precursor of the character described which arouses interest in the user as he continues to fill a page with pictures until a page is completed whereupon the user can quickly transform the precursor into a permanent picture album page. The use lof my album page precursor stimulates the taking of photographs so that an album page can be completed.

It is yet a further object of ymy invention to provide an album page precursor of the character described which is economical in manufacture, suitable to mass production techniques, and which, therefore, is saleable to the purchasing public at a relatively low price.

In general, and in accordance with the teaching of my invention, I provide an album page precursor which comprises a two sheet composite, each sheet being of like desirably rectangular configuration, and the sheets being super-imposed in coextensive relationship and adhered to one another. One of said sheets comprises a base layer of good tear resistance with an outward exposed face and a pressure sensitive adhesive back face. The other sheet is a peelable backing which is in contact with and thereby covers the adhesive face of the base laye-r and which can be stripped off of the adhesive face when desired without tearing.

Patented Aug.. i5, i967 The album page precursor is divided into two leaves by a center fold located in a linear central zone of the composite. At least one and preferably both of the leaves have one or more picture openings formed the-rein. The openings yare located in the leaves to define the aforesaid central zone and wide borders on the leaves by leaving the same free of such picture openings.

The picture openings are each of a size somewhat smaller than the standard size pictures for which the precursor album page is intended. That is to say, if the precursor album page is intended to mount a 31/2 X 5 picture, the afliliated opening will be somewhat smaller than 31/2 x 5, e.g. 3 x 41/2". The openings can each be `of the same size to all mount ylike size pictures or, if desired, the openings can be several different sizes so that pictures of different sizes can be mounted on the same page.

If desired the picture opening can be made in shapes of other than conventional snapshots, e.g. diamond shaped, square, oval or round and the pictures trimmed to the same configurations but of slightly larger size. A picture is mounted by first stripping the peelable backing partially away from the pressure sensitive adhesive face of the base layer so as to fully expose the portion `of the adhesive face surrounding a picture opening. The picture is then located over and behind the opening and pressed against the adhesive back face of the base layer with the margins of the picture contacting the adhesive border of said opening and with the major portion of the picture facing outward so as to be observable through said opening.

In this maner, one or more pictures are mounted on the base layer, eac-h over a different picture opening. The peelable backing is replaced over the adhesive face `0f the base layer (and over the backs of such pictures as have been mounted) each time as long as there remain blank picture openings. When all of the picture openings in the base layer, i.e. in Vboth leaves, have been overlain by pictures, the peelable backing is completely stripped off and discarded. Then the base layer is folded Ion itself on the center fold so that those portions of the adhesive face of one leaf not covered by pictures are superimposed upon and Contact those portions of the adhesive face of the other leaf not covered by pictures.

A firm adherence between the leaves is engendered thereby, each leaf having at least its relatively wide adhesive border now adhesively attached to the relatively wide and similarly shaped border of the other leaf. Further, the lattice of adhesive strips defining the picture openings, which lattice comprises the remainder of the adhesive face of the base layer of one leaf surrounding the pictures, adheres to the adhesive lattice or back of a mounted picture 0f the other leaf, with which it may be aligned.

In this manner, there has been formed from an album page precursor a substantially permanent unitary and sturdy album page, one or both exposed faces of which exhibit to view one or more pictures. The page adhesively locates said pictures in permanent and order position on both of said faces. The album page precursor has served to temporarily mount pictures as the precursor is gradually filled until all the openings therein are filled with pictures, whereupon the album page can readily be formed, substantially permanently mounting and framing said pictures.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps which will be exemplified in the album page precursor and method for converting the same with pictures into a unitary completed album page, all as hereinafter described, and of Which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a rear plan view of my album page precursor with its peelable backing folded back at diagonally opposed corners to illustrate the manner in which the marginal adhesive borders of the picture openings in said precursor are exposed;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of one side of a completed album page; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged cross sectional fragmentary views of, respectively, the album page precursor and the completed album page taken, respectively, along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 and 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral denotes an album page precursor made in accordance with my invention. The precursor 10 comprises two superimposed coextensive adhered layers of like rectangular configuration, one of said layers being a base sheet 12 and the other of said layers being a peelable backing 14. The base sheet 12 can be formed from paper sheeting, plastic film, or a laminated fabric or coated material and can be of any suitable weight and finish. The sheet is strong so as to have good resistance to tearing and has flexibility while yet being somewhat self-formmaintaining. Said base sheet 12 has an outward face 16, which face will, when the album page is completed, cornprise the exposed surface of the completed picture album page. The exposed face 16 may be colored or suitably decorated or imprinted to enhance the appearance of the album page.

The base sheet 12 has strongly bonded thereto and constituting its other face a conventional pressure sensitive adhesive layer 18, suitably of the polyisobutylene type. Said face is indicated by stippling in FIG. l.

The second layer of the album page precursor, the peelable backing 14, is in contact with the adhesive face 13 of the base sheet 12 and serves to cover and protect said adhesive face. Said backing is strong enough to offer good resistance to tearing. In order that the peelable backing 14 can be readily stripped from the base sheet 12 to expose the adhesive face when desired, the proximate face of the peelable backing has a high release characteristic, the same being well known in the art and being provided, for example, by coating said face with silicone, phenolic resin or quilone.

When the peelable backing is removed from the base sheet, the high release characteristic of the peelable backing enables the high release face of the backing to be readily separated from the adhesive face of the sheet more readily than the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer which comprises the adhesive face, can be freed from the base sheet` The entire backing may be formed from a material having a high release characteristic, or a high release characteristic may be imparted to the proximate face of said backing.

In a commercial embodiment of my invention, the base sheet 12 and peelable backing 14 are formed from Con- Tact paper, the composition of which is set forth in United States Letters Patent No. 3,130,113.

The album page precursor 10 includes a wide solid (unperforated) linear central zone in which is located a center fold 22, i.e. a crease. The center fold runs at right angles to opposed long upper and lower sides of the two layer composite and divides the album page precursor into two similar leaves, a right leaf 24 and a left leaf 26. Each of the leaves is a rectangular shape which is the same shape as any conventional picture album page. The terms right and left refer to said leaves as they are located in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Each leaf thereby comprises a twin half of the composite, i.e. one half of the base sheet 12 and a superimposed one half of the peelable backing 14, and said leaves are separated by the center fold 22. It may be noted at this point that the center fold may be formed by scoring or creasing the base sheet, or the center fold may be indicated by indicia imprinted thereon, or the center fold may be a wholly imaginary line determined when, as will be shortly described, one leaf is folded upon the other leaf.

One or both leaves has one or more picture openings 2S formed therein. Each opening is characterized by the fact that it is adapted for and is somewhat smaller than a standard size picture which the album page is intended to mount. This is to say, for example, if the album page was intended to hold 31/2 x 5" pictures, the appropriate openings 28 would be somewhat smaller than 31/2 X 5". For example, the openings could suitably be 3 x 41/2" so that the openings would block a continuous 1A margin of the pictures to be so located.

Each of the picture openings 28 on one leaf may optionally be of the same or different sizes so that a leaf may accommodate several pictures each of the same size or of varying sizes. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the openings are rectangular and of different size, and are of different orientations. That is to say, the long dimensions of some of said rectangular openings are perpendicular to the center fold 22 while others of said rectangular openings have their long dimensions parallel to the center fold 22. Further, to enhance the appearance of the album page, and to provide a somewhat more unusual frame for the pictures, the openings may be other than rectangular, e.g. hexagonal, triangular, square, circular or elliptical. In any case, regardless or" the shape or layout of the picture openings, the base layer border defining the opening should not extend beyond the edge of the picture, when the picture is properly centered over said opening.

It is appropriate at this point to mention that the term picture as used herein and in the claims includes any substantially flat intelligence bearing article which is appropriate for multiple mounting in an album. For example, photographs, newpaper and magazine clippings, labels, and even souvenir cube sugar wrappers could all constitute subject matter which a user might desire to mount in an album page with appropriately configured picture openings.

The picture openings 28 are necessarily cut into the base sheet 18 and for economy and convenience in manfacture are cut through t-he backing 14 as well. This is desirable since sheet material having an adhesive face is commercially marketed with a peelable backing already thereon so that when the same is cut, in the course of manufacturing the present album page precursor, it is most convenient to cut through both the backing and the base layers with an appropriate blanking die.

The picture openings 2S are organized in groups in each of the leaves 24, 26 so that they border upon and define the relatively wide central zone 29. Further, the picture openings are located so that they border upon and define relatively wide uninterrupted and continuous borders on said leaves 24, 26. More specifically, said openings 28 define a relatively wide side border segment 30, 32 on respectively the right leaf 24 and left leaf 26. r1`he side border segments 30, 32 are parallel and of like length and width so that, as will shortly be seen, when one leaf is folded upon the other leaf, the border segments 30, 32 will be precisely superimposed. Optionally, each of the border segments has aligned and spaced holes 35 formed therein so that the precursor when partially filled or the album page when completed can be placed into a ring binder for incorporation into a picture album.

The picture openings 2S also partially define upper and lower border segments on each of the leaves. More specically, the openings dene the upper border segments 36, 38 on, respectively, the leaves 24, 26 and further detine the lower border segments 40, 42 on, respectively, the leaves 24, 26. The border segments 36, 38 are parallel to the border segments 40, 42 and each of said border segments is of the same length and width. The border segments 36, 30 and 40 form a three-sided border for the leaf 24 which is a mirror image of the three-sided border comprising the border segments 38, 32 and 42 for the leaf 26.

The picture openings 28 further define in each of the leaves a lattice of inter-connected strips 44. The strips 44 are not uniformly of like length, width and orientation since these characteristics are determined by the locaiton of the picture openings. The lattices of strips 44, the leaves borders and the central zone comprise the unitary body of the two layer composite.

A picture P is mounted over any one desired picture opening 2S by first partially stripping the peelable backing 14 from the base sheet 12 to the extent necessary to expose the border segments, strips or center zone all of the adhesive face 18 surrounding said opening. In FIG. 1, diagonally opposed corners of the peelable backing 14 are illustrated partially removed from diagonally exposed corners of the base sheet 12 in the course of exposing the openings 28a and 28b. With the adhesive face border of a selected opening so exposed, a suitable picture P is centered over the opening and is pressed against the base sheet 12. Said picture is rectangular and has an outline slightly larger than said opening. In this position, the margins M of the picture P will overlie and be in adhesive -contact with the adhesive face 18 of the base sheet 12 surrounding said opening, and the front, i.e. the major and image bearing portion of the picture will face forwardly and will be exhibited to View through said opening. Again referring to FIG. 1, dot-and-dash lines and the solid lines indicate the relative overlapping positions of the edge of the picture P and the edge of the opening 28a.

With a single or several pictures P mounted in the manner described, the peelable backing 14 can be reapplied over the adhesive face of the base sheet 12. It will readhere to portions of the adhesive face not covered by pictures margins. Then, if desired, one leaf 24 can be folded on the center fold 22 to meet the other leaf 26 so that a single (but still two leafed) page is formed which can be inserted into :a ring binder picture album by the small holes 35.

When it is desired to mount additional pictures in the album page precursor, the peelable backing 14 is again removed from the base sheet 12 to the extent necessary to expose one or more picture openings 28, the picture openings now exposed, of course, being as yet not blocked by pictures. Additional pictures are properly centered over affiliated openings in the manner just described until Iall of the openings are filled with pictures.

At this point, the album page precursor is ready for integration into a permanent sturdy and strong album page 46. To this end, the peelable backing 14 is completely removed from the base sheet 12 and is discarded. Then the right leaf 24 is folded about the preformed center fold 22 onto and in contact with the left leaf 26, with the adhesive face of one leaf being adhered to and superimposed upon the adhesive face of the other leaf. A firm adherence between the leaves is thereby engendered, with the portion of the central zone 20 on one side of the center fold 22 adhering to the portion of the central zone on the other side of the center fold, with the three segment border of one leaf adhering to the three segment border of the other leaf .and with the adhesive strips which make up a lattice of strips of one leaf adhering in part to the lattice of adhesive strips of the other leaf and in part to the backs of the pictures mounted in the other leaf, with which they are aligned (see FIG. 4). The picture openings 28 lare not commonly in alignment (are in disregstry) when the leaves are folded back to back. However, one or more openings may be aligned by their correct location on their respective leaves as are picture openings 28b and 28e.

A unitary semi-stiff and rugged multi-layer sandwich picture album page 46 is thereby formed. With reference to the cross section of such a completed page shown in FIG. 4, the exposed faces 16 on opposed sides of the sandwich page are the only broad surfaces (except for the pictures P) which are observable. The left most layer is the base sheet 12 and, more particularly, that half of the base sheet which formerly was a component of the leaf 26. Said left most layer has an upper picture opening 28C, a central picture opening 28d and the lower picture opening 28b therein (see FIG. 2). The next layer, a left intermediate layer is composed of three aligned pictures, an upper picture Pa, a middle picture Pb and a bottom picture Pc. The front margins of said pictures are adhered to the portions of the adhesive back face 18 bordering the openings through which the fronts and image bearing faces of said pictures can be seen. The right intermediate layer is composed of two pictures, an upper picture Pd and a lower picture (not shown). It will be observed that the border 38 of the left hand layer is adhered directly to the border 36 of the right hand layer and that the portion of the adhesive strip 44 interposed between the pictures Pa and Pb is adhered to the back of the picture Pd as at 48. The right hand layer is the base sheet 12 and, more particularly, that half of the base sheet which formerly was a component of the right leaf 24. The picture Pd is `similarly in contact with the adhesive face of the right hand layer and is viewable through the picture opening 28a in said right hand layer base sheet.

It will now be evident that I have provided an album page precursor which serves to temporarily mount pictures in picture openings in an ordered manner, which precursor even while holding only a few pictures can be placed into a picture album. When all the openings have been filled with pictures, the precursor can quickly -and easily be transformed into a sturdy and permanent picture album page, each face of which exhibits a group of pictures to view. A lattice of interconnected strips separates each picture from its neighbor and the exposed face of said lattice serves to outline, frame and highlight each picture as a distinct and interesting entity.

It thus will be seen that I have provided an album page precursor and a method for forming a picture bearing album page which achieve the several objects of my invention and which are well Iadapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might 'be made in the embodiment set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

An album page precursor for forming an album page with pictures mounted therein, said precursor including a base layer having an exposed face and a pressure sensitive adhesive back face, and a peelable backing superimposed on and in contact with the adhesive back face of the base layer, said precursor being divided into two leaves by a center fold, both of the leaves having picture openings in their respective segments of the base layer, some of the picture openings in one leaf being in registry with picture openings in the other leaf, the picture openings being somewhat smaller in size than the pictures for which the album page is intended, said picture openings defining a continuous border for each leaf and a central zone wherein the center fold is situated so that when the backing is stripped from the adhesive face of the base layer, pictures may be located over the openings with their margins adhered to the adhesive face borders of References Cited the openings and with the major portions of the pictures UNITED STATES PATENTS exposed to View through the openings and so that with the i 549 389 8/1925 Simon 129 20 backing stripped from said adhesive face and all the 1943022 1/1934 Koster 0 158 picture OpeningS filled, h leaves may be Oldd 0H them- 5 2,963,809 12/1960 Parker 40 158 selves about the center fold adhesive face to adhesive face 0242553 3/1962 Rowley 40 158 whereby to form a unitary album page with pictures 3,069,793 12/1962 Francesc@ 40 2 2 mounted therein, said peeiabie hacking having openings therethrough in registry with the openings in the base EUGENE R CAPOZO, Pnmary Exammef'- layer. 10 W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

